OPENING OF THE 73rd FIP WORLD CONGRESS OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES IN DUBLIN, IRELAND

‘Bringing solutions for complex patients’

The Minister for Health of Ireland, Dr James Reilly, officially opens the 73rd FIP World Congress

Dublin, 1 September - Today, Dr James Reilly, Minister for Health of Ireland, opened the 73rd FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, which is being co-hosted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI). Jointly, the PSI and FIP are welcoming nearly 3000 participants from 107 countries to Dublin for the FIP congress and coinciding Symposium for Senior Pharmaceutical Policy Makers ‘Achieving Responsible Use of Medicines –Real Patients, Real Policy, What Really Works?’, hosted by the Irish Ministry for Health.

In his opening remarks, the Minister for Health made reference to the growing complexity of patients and healthcare systems, with increased life expectancy and better health technologies, but also a heavier disease burden, particularly of non-communicable diseases. Dr Reilly stated that these developments place greater challenges in terms of funding healthcare systems, and demand a better and more responsible use of the limited resources available. He went on to refer to the conclusions of the Symposium, and the role of pharmacists in encouraging healthier lifestyles, preventing disease and promoting more responsible use of medicines.

FIP previously held its Congress in Ireland in 1975 and since then, the country and Irish pharmacy have seen many changes. Today, pharmacy in Ireland is undergoing its most significant transformation yet thanks to new legislation implemented in 2007 to expand the role of pharmacists.

Mr Eoghan Hanley, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), underlined the role that FIP and international collaboration played in the transformation of the profession in Ireland. Mr Hanley highlighted that Ireland was the first country worldwide to develop a Competency Framework to address the renovation of pharmacy education based on the FIP Global Competency Framework published in 2012.

In a similar fashion, change is sweeping pharmacy and healthcare on a global scale. A new era of healthcare development brings with it much hope. As more solutions become available to patients – whether they are medicines, therapies or services provided by healthcare providers – pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists can help patients with their ever more complex care. As such, the 2013 FIP Congress theme is: Towards a Future Vision for Complex Patients: Integrated Care in a Dynamic Continuum.

In his opening address, the FIP President, Dr Michel Buchmann, stated that “The future is inevitably interdisciplinary.” The development of more effective medicines by scientists will only produce the desired health outcomes for patients if supported by competent practitioners. Likewise, the knowledge from working with patients in daily pharmacy practice is critical in informing and improving the pharmaceutical sciences to meet the needs of society.

During the ceremony, FIP also honoured the following award recipients: